Methods for Packaging Products

ABSTRACT

The present disclosure provides methods for packaging products by applying a first portion of an adhesive strip to an outer surface of a packaging product. The packaging product includes a plurality of stack containers forming a rim, an outer surface, and an inner surface. The second portion of the adhesive strip is bent over the rim. In addition, the method includes applying force to the second portion of the adhesive strip to releasably attach the second portion of the adhesive strip to the inner surface of the packaging product.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation of, and claims the benefit ofpriority to, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/735,780 filed Jun. 10,2015 and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/050,334 filed Oct. 9, 2013,owned by the applicant of the present application, the disclosures ofwhich are incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present subject matter relates generally to methods of packagingproducts, specifically, containers.

Many containers, such as disposable food storage containers and reusablebakeware, are sold in product packages containing two or more containersstacked on each other or nested partially within each other.

The containers are held together by a variety of methods. For example,the containers may be held together by thin cardboard paper foldedaround the containers, wherein the cardboard is adhered to itself,essentially forming a box-like structure around the containers. Thecardboard typically has product marketing displayed on the outersurface, as well as the bar code used for purchase. However, the use ofcardboard is not environmentally friendly and requires a high labor costof assembly.

The most used method of securing containers together involvesshrink-wrapping the containers together with a specific type of plasticthat, upon heating, is capable of shrinking to form a plastic sealaround an article. Typically, in an assembly line operation, a personwill loosely put a plastic sleeve around the article, the article withthe plastic sleeve will proceed to a high temperature zone, where theplastic shrinks around the article, and maintains the shrunk shape atroom temperature. However, the shrink-wrap, when exposed to increasedtemperatures, such as during shipping in the summer months, may changeshape and fail to hold containers together. In addition, this processnot only requires human labor of placing plastic sleeves around eachpackage product, but also requires a higher energy cost owing to theincrease in temperature required to reshape the plastic, as well asbeing environmentally unfriendly.

Accordingly there is a need for a packaging method that is costeffective, reduces manual labor, environmentally friendly, and moreefficient than conventional methods.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure provides methods for packaging products. Variousexamples of the methods are provided herein.

The present disclosure provides an energy and cost efficient method ofpackaging products. Specifically, the disclosure provides a method tosecure stacked or nested containers together for shipping or commerce byapplying a portion of an adhesive strip to an outer surface of thestacked containers. Pressurized air may then be used to bend a portionof the adhesive strip not attached to the packaging product, over therim of the containers. Lastly, the portion of the adhesive strip notattached to the packaging product is then adhered to the inner surfaceof the packaging product. The method steps may be performed as part ofan assembly line for packaging containers together.

In an embodiment, the method for packaging products includes applying afirst portion of an adhesive strip to an outer surface of a packagingproduct, wherein the packaging product includes a plurality of stackedcontainers, the plurality of stacked containers forming a rim, the outersurface, and an inner surface. In one example, the method may includeapplying at least two adhesive strips to the outer surface of thepackaging product.

The method further includes bending a second portion of the adhesivestrip over the rim towards the inner surface by applying pressurized airto the adhesive strip. In addition, the method includes applying a forceto the second portion of the adhesive strip to releasably attach thesecond portion of the adhesive strip to the inner surface.

In an example, when the adhesive strip is applied to the outer surfaceof the packaging product, the adhesive strip includes a front face and aback face, wherein the front face includes an adhesive portion and anon-adhesive portion and the back face is non-adhesive. The adhesivestrip may be folded along an edge to form a tab that embodies thenon-adhesive portion of the front face.

The adhesive strip may further include a midline dividing the adhesivestrip into two halves, wherein the midline is aligned with the rim afterthe force is applied to the second portion of the adhesive strip toreleasably attach the second portion of the adhesive strip to the innersurface.

In an example, the step of bending the second portion of the adhesivestrip over the rim towards the inner surface by applying pressurized airto the adhesive strip may include bending the adhesive strip to beapproximately perpendicular to the inner surface of the packagingproduct. The step of applying a force to the second portion of theadhesive strip to releasably attach the second portion of the adhesivestrip to the inner surface may include physically contacting anon-adhesive section of the adhesive strip.

In another example, the plurality of stacked containers may include atleast two baking pans. Alternatively, or in addition to, the pluralityof stacked containers may include at least two food storage containers.

Further, the packaging product may include four side panels, each havingan inner surface and an outer surface. Alternatively, the packagingproduct may include a side panel forming a cylinder having an innersurface and an outer surface.

In one example, the adhesive strip has a width between, and including, 1cm and 10 cm, and wherein the adhesive strip has a length between, andincluding, 5 cm and 20 cm. The adhesive strip may include a polyesterlining and an acrylic-based adhesive.

In an embodiment, the method for packaging products includes applying afirst portion of an adhesive strip to an outer surface of a packagingproduct, wherein the packaging product includes a plurality of stackedcontainers, the plurality of stacked containers forming a rim and theouter surface, wherein the rim includes a rim top surface.

The method further includes bending a second portion of the adhesivestrip over the rim top surface by applying pressurized air to theadhesive strip. In addition, the method includes applying a force to thesecond portion of the adhesive strip to releasably attach the secondportion of the adhesive strip to the rim top surface.

In another embodiment, the method includes providing a packaging productincluding a plurality of stacked containers, the plurality of stackedcontainers forming a stacked plurality of rim beads forming an outerplane. The method further includes applying a first portion 16 of anadhesive strip to the outer plane, wherein the adhesive strip spans theplurality of rim beads, and applying a force to the second portion ofthe adhesive strip to releasably attach the second portion of theadhesive strip to the outer plane.

The adhesive strip may include a front face and a back face, wherein thefront face includes an adhesive portion and a non-adhesive portion andthe back face is non-adhesive, wherein the front face adheres to theouter plane.

An advantage of the present methods is decreasing the labor requirementsand costs associated with packaging products.

A further advantage of the present method is providing a packagingmethod that uses fewer packaging materials, thus being environmentallyfriendly.

Another advantage of the present method is that it allows marketingmaterials to be printed on the adhesive strip.

A further advantage of the present methods is that the packaging methodis energy efficient because it does not require a change in temperatureto secure the containers together, as is necessary with shrink-wrapmethods.

Another advantage of the present method is that the method and resultingpackaged product is not susceptible to weathering due to varyingtemperatures, such as during shipping or transportation.

Yet another advantage of the present methods is providing a packagingmethod that results in a packaged product that is easy to remove fromthe packaging.

Additional objects, advantages and novel features of the examples willbe set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part willbecome apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of thefollowing description and the accompanying drawings or may be learned byproduction or operation of the examples. The objects and advantages ofthe concepts may be realized and attained by means of the methodologies,instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in theappended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The drawing figures depict one or more implementations in accord withthe present concepts, by way of example only, not by way of limitations.In the figures, like reference numerals refer to the same or similarelements.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a first portion of anadhesive strip applied to the outer surface of the packaging product.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an example of an embodiment of a firstportion of an adhesive strip applied to the outer surface of thepackaging product.

FIG. 3A is a perspective view of an example of an embodiment of a firstportion of an adhesive strip applied to the outer surface of thepackaging product.

FIG. 3B is a perspective view of an embodiment of an application ofpressurized air to the second portion of the adhesive strip.

FIG. 3C is a perspective view of an embodiment of a first portion of anadhesive strip applied to the inner surface of the packaging product.

FIG. 4A is a front view of an embodiment of a back face of the adhesivestrip.

FIG. 4B is a front view of an embodiment of a front face of the adhesivestrip.

FIG. 5A is a perspective view of an embodiment of a first portion of anadhesive strip applied to the outer surface of the packaging product,wherein the adhesive strip includes a tab.

FIG. 5B is a perspective view of an embodiment of a second portion of anadhesive strip applied to the inner surface of the packaging product.

FIG. 6 is an embodiment of the method including a packaging assemblyline.

FIG. 7A is a cross-sectional side view of an embodiment of the methodwherein the first portion of the adhesive strip adheres to the outersurface of the packaging product.

FIG. 7B is a cross-sectional side view of an embodiment of the methodwherein the second portion of the adhesive strip adheres to the rim topsurface.

FIG. 8A is a cross-sectional side view of an embodiment of the methodwherein the adhesive strip adheres to the outer plane of the rim beads.

FIG. 8B is close up of a portion of the embodiment shown in FIG. 8A.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure provides methods 10 for packaging products 12,namely, containers 14. In an embodiment, the method 10 includes applyinga first portion 16 of an adhesive strip 20 to an outer surface 22 of apackaging product 12, wherein the packaging product 12 includes aplurality of stacked containers 14, as shown in FIG. 1. In one example,the method 10 may include applying at least two adhesive strips 20 tothe outer surface 22 of the packaging product 12.

The stacked containers 14 comprising the packaging product 12 may be anysuitable containers that are typically packaged and sold together. Forexample, the plurality of stacked containers 14 may include at least twobaking pans, such as disposable pie pans or casserole pans.Alternatively, or in addition to, the plurality of stacked containers 14may include at least two food storage containers, such as, disposable,plastic food containers. The term “stacked” may indicate, but is notlimited to, items that partially fit inside one another. For example,containers that are nested inside one another, as well as containersthat rest on top of each other but not necessarily nested within eachother, are all included within the term “stacked.”

As shown in FIG. 2, the adhesive strip 20 includes a first portion 16and a second portion 24. In one example, a midline 34 may virtuallydivide the adhesive strip 20 into the first portion 16 and the secondportion 24. The adhesive strip further includes a front face 18 and aback face 26. In one example, the front face 18 may include an adhesiveportion and the back face 26 may be non-adhesive. In another example,the front face 18 may include an adhesive portion and a non-adhesiveportion. The incorporation of a non-adhesive portion into the front face18 that also includes an adhesive portion, allows a user to easilyremove the adhesive strip 20 from the packaging product 12.

The adhesive strip 20 may include any suitable material that is rigidenough to maintain a planar structure without the application of force,while at the same time flexible enough to bend over the rim 28 with theapplication of force, such as the force from pressurized air. Forexample, the adhesive strip 20 may include a polyester lining. Theadhesive used in the adhesive strip 20 may be any suitable adhesive,such that when the adhesive strip 20 is removed from the packagingproduct 12 that the adhesive does not leave any residue on the packagingproduct 12. For example, the adhesive may include an acrylic-basedadhesive.

As shown in FIGS. 1-2, the plurality of stacked containers 14 form a rim28, the outer surface 22, and an inner surface 30. In other words, thepackaging product 12 includes a rim 28, an outer surface 22, and aninner surface 30. The present disclosure provides a method 10 ofconnecting the stacked containers 14 together by adhering the adhesivestrip 20 to both the inner surface 30 and the outer surface 22 of thepackaging product 12.

The method 10 further includes bending the second portion 24 of theadhesive strip 20 over the rim 28 towards the inner surface 30 byapplying a force perpendicular to the second portion 24 of the adhesivestrip 20. For example, the force may be pressurized air directed to anon-adhesive side of the adhesive strip 20. As shown in FIG. 3A, thepressurized air may be directed to the second portion 24 of the backface 26 of the adhesive strip 20, forcing the second portion 24 to bendover the rim 28, towards the inner surface 30 of the packaging product12, as shown in FIG. 3B. In an example, the step of bending the secondportion 24 of the adhesive strip 20 over the rim 28 towards the innersurface 30 by applying pressurized air to the adhesive strip 20 mayinclude bending the adhesive strip 20 to be approximately perpendicularto the inner surface 30 of the packaging product 12, as shown in FIG.3B. The pressurized air may be from any suitable source, such as acompressed air source.

In addition, the method 10 includes applying a force to the secondportion 24 of the adhesive strip 20 to releasably attach the secondportion 24 of the adhesive strip 20 to the inner surface 30, as shown inFIG. 3C. The force may be generally perpendicular to the second portion24 of the adhesive strip 20 such that second portion 24 is adhered tothe inner surface 30 of the packaging product 12.

The step of applying a force to the second portion 24 of the adhesivestrip 20 to releasably attach the second portion 24 of the adhesivestrip 20 to the inner surface 30 may include physically contacting anon-adhesive section of the back face 26 of the adhesive strip 20. Forexample, the force may be pressurized air, or, preferably, the force maybe physical contact from a mechanical body that moves the second portion24 towards the inner surface 30. The force may be applied by a roller aspart of an assembly line process, wherein the roller contacts the secondportion 24 and rolls down the second portion 24 along the inner surface30, thereby adhering the second portion 24 to the inner surface 30.

As shown in FIGS. 7A-7B, the present disclosure also provides a method10 for packaging containers that includes applying a first portion 16 ofan adhesive strip 20 to an outer surface 22 of a packaging product 12,wherein the packaging product 12 includes a plurality of stackedcontainers 14, the plurality of stacked containers 14 forming a rim 28and the outer surface 22, wherein the rim 28 includes a rim top surface50. The method further includes bending a second portion 24 of theadhesive strip 20 over the rim top surface 50 by applying pressurizedair to the adhesive strip 20. In addition, the method 10 includesapplying a force to the second portion 24 of the adhesive strip 20 toreleasably attach the second portion 24 of the adhesive strip 20 to therim top surface, as shown in FIG. 7B. In other words, the method 10 mayinclude releasably attaching the second portion 24 of the adhesive strip20 to the rim top surface alone. Alternatively, or in addition to, themethod 10 may include releasably attaching the second portion 24 to theinner surface 30 of the packaging product 12.

In another embodiment, as shown in FIG. 8A, the method 10 includesproviding a packaging product 12 including a plurality of stackedcontainers 14, the plurality of stacked containers 14 forming a stackedplurality of rim beads 52 forming an outer plane 54. The method 10further includes applying a first portion 16 of an adhesive strip 20 tothe outer plane 54, wherein the adhesive strip 20 spans the plurality ofrim beads 52, and applying a force to the second portion 24 of theadhesive strip 20 to releasably attach the second portion 24 of theadhesive strip to the outer plane 54. The example shown in FIGS. 8A-8Bonly includes the adhesive strip 20 releasably attached to the outerplane 54 of the rim beads 52. In other words, in an example the adhesivestrip 20 is not releasably attached to the outer surface 22 of thepackaging container 12.

In an example, when the adhesive strip 20 is applied to the outersurface 22 of the packaging product 12, the adhesive strip 20 includes afront face 18 and a back face 26, wherein the front face 18 includes anadhesive portion 38 and a non-adhesive portion 40 and the back face 26is non-adhesive. The adhesive strip 20 may be folded along an edge toform a tab 32 that embodies the non-adhesive portion 40 of the frontface 18. For example, FIG. 4A depicts a back face 26 that isnon-adhesive and FIG. 4B depicts a front face 18 including an adhesiveportion 38 and a non-adhesive portion 40, wherein the tab 32 includesthe non-adhesive portion 40. Further, FIG. 5A depicts the adhesive strip20 attached to the outer surface 22 of the packaging product 12, whereinthe front face 18 of the second portion 24 includes an adhesive portion38 and non-adhesive portion 32. FIG. 5B depicts the back face 26, whichis non-adhesive, of the adhesive strip 20 that is adhered to the innersurface 30 of the packaging product 12. Alternatively, as shown in theexample in FIG. 8B, the adhesive strip 20 may include a front face 18and a back face 26, wherein the front face 18 includes an adhesiveportion and a non-adhesive portion and the back face is non-adhesive,wherein the front face 18 adheres to the outer plane 54.

Although the examples shown in the figures include a tab 32 that isparallel to a side edge of the adhesive strip 20, the tab may be formedin any suitable manner. For example, the tab 32 may be formed by foldinga corner of the adhesive strip 20 such that the front face 18 includesan adhesive portion 38 and a non-adhesive portion 40.

The adhesive strip 20 may further include a midline 34 dividing theadhesive strip 20 into two halves. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3A, themidline 34 is approximately aligned with the rim 28 after the force isapplied to the second portion 24 of the adhesive strip 20 to releasablyattach the second portion 24 of the adhesive strip 20 to the innersurface 30. In other words, the midline 34 is a virtual line thatdivides the adhesive strip 20 into two portions, namely, the firstportion 16 and second portion 24.

The packaging product 12 may be any suitable shape. For example, thepackaging product 12 may include side panels, each having an innersurface 30 and an outer surface 22. In one example, the packagingproduct 12 may include four side panels. Alternatively, the packagingproduct 12 may include a side panel forming a cylinder having an innersurface 30 and an outer surface 22.

In one example, the adhesive strip 20 has a width between, andincluding, 1 cm and 10 cm, and wherein the adhesive strip 20 has alength between, and including, 5 cm and 20 cm. Preferably, the adhesivestrip 20 has a width between, and including, 2 cm and 5 cm, and whereinthe adhesive strip 20 has a length between, and including, 5 cm and 10cm.

FIG. 6 is a schematic of an embodiment of the method 10 carried out aspart of a packaging assembly line 36. As shown in FIG. 6, an adhesivestrip dispenser releases the adhesive strip 20, the first portion 16 ofwhich is applied to the outer surface 22 of the packaging product 12. Apressurized air source is then applied to the second portion 24 of theadhesive strip 20, causing the second portion 24 to bend over the rim 28of the packaging product 12. Then the second portion 24 of the adhesivestrip 20 is releasably attached to the inner surface 30 of the packagingproduct 12.

In addition, the adhesive strip 20 may be dispensed in a manner thatcreates the tab 32 before the first portion 16 of the adhesive strip 20is applied to the outer surface 22 of the packaging product 12. Forexample, the adhesive strip 20 may be dispensed through an openinghaving a width that is narrower than the original width of the adhesivestrip 20. As the adhesive strip 20 moves through the narrow opening, anedge of the adhesive strip may fold back on itself to create tab 32. Asmentioned above, the tab 32 allows a user to easily remove the adhesivestrip 20 from the packaging product 12 in order to access the at leastone stacked containers 14.

It should be noted that various changes and modifications to theembodiments described herein will be apparent to those skilled in theart. Such changes and modifications may be made without departing fromthe spirit and scope of the present invention and without diminishingits attendant advantages. For example, various embodiments of the methodand portable electronic device may be provided based on variouscombinations of the features and functions from the subject matterprovided herein.

We claim:
 1. A method for packaging products, the method comprising:applying a first portion of an adhesive strip to an outer surface of apackaging product, wherein the packaging product includes a plurality ofstacked containers, the plurality of stacked containers forming a rim,an outer surface, and an inner surface; bending a second portion of theadhesive strip over the rim towards the inner surface; and applying aforce to the second portion of the adhesive tape strip to releasablyattach the second portion of the adhesive strip to the inner surface. 2.The method of claim 1 wherein, when applied to the outer surface of thepackaging product, the adhesive strip includes a front face and a backface, wherein the front face includes an adhesive portion and anon-adhesive portion and the back face is non-adhesive.
 3. The method ofclaim 2 wherein the adhesive strip including a front face and a backface, wherein the front face includes an adhesive portion and anon-adhesive portion and the back face is non-adhesive is formed byfolding the adhesive strip to bring two adhesive portions into contactwith each other.
 4. The method of claim 3 wherein the adhesive strip isfolded along an edge to form a tab that embodies the non-adhesiveportion of the front face.
 5. The method of claim 1 wherein the adhesivestrip includes a midline dividing the adhesive strip into two halves,wherein the midline is aligned with the rim after the force is appliedto the second portion of the adhesive strip to releasably attach thesecond portion of the adhesive strip to the inner surface.
 6. The methodof claim 1 wherein at least two adhesive strips are applied to the outersurface of the packaging product.
 7. The method of claim 1 wherein thestep of bending the second portion of the adhesive strip over the rimtowards the inner surface includes bending the adhesive strip to beapproximately perpendicular to the inner surface of the packagingproduct.
 8. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of applying a forceto the second portion of the adhesive strip to releasably attach thesecond portion of the adhesive strip to the inner surface includesphysically contacting a non-adhesive section of the adhesive strip. 9.The method of claim 1 wherein the plurality of stacked containersincludes at least two baking pans.
 10. The method of claim 1 wherein theplurality of stacked containers include at least two food storagecontainers.
 11. The method of claim 1 wherein the packaging productincludes four side panels, each having an inner surface and an outersurface.
 12. The method of claim 1 wherein the packaging productincludes a side panel forming a cylinder having an inner surface and anouter surface.
 13. The method of claim 1 wherein the adhesive strip hasa width between, and including, 1 cm and 10 cm, and wherein the adhesivestrip as a length between, and including, 5 cm and 20 cm.
 14. The methodof claim 1 wherein the adhesive strip comprises a polyester liner andacrylic-based adhesive.
 15. A method for packaging products, the methodcomprising: applying a first portion of an adhesive strip to an outersurface of a packaging product, wherein the packaging product includes aplurality of stacked containers, the plurality of stacked containersforming a rim and an outer surface, wherein the rim includes a rim topsurface; bending a second portion of the adhesive strip over the rim topsurface; and applying a force to the second portion of the adhesive tapestrip to releasably attach the second portion of the adhesive strip tothe rim top surface.
 16. The method of claim 15 wherein, when applied tothe outer surface of the packaging product, the adhesive strip includesa front face and a back face, wherein the front face includes anadhesive portion and a non-adhesive portion and the back face isnon-adhesive.
 17. A method for packaging products, the methodcomprising: providing a packaging product including a plurality ofstacked containers, the plurality of stacked containers forming astacked plurality of rim beads forming an outer plane; applying a firstportion of an adhesive strip to the outer plane, wherein the adhesivestrip spans the plurality of rim beads; and applying a force to thesecond portion of the adhesive tape strip to releasably attach thesecond portion of the adhesive strip to the outer plane.
 18. The methodof claim 17 wherein the adhesive strip includes a front face and a backface, wherein the front face includes an adhesive portion and anon-adhesive portion and the back face is non-adhesive, wherein thefront face adheres to the outer plane.